Afternoon news update: July 16, 2015

Illinois businesses can now offer discounted food and drink specials at certain times of day following the governor’s signature Wednesday. Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, says this move certainly benefits the food and drink industry. Happy hours can start at 4, but must end before 10 – and they have to be advertised at least a week in advance. Happy hours can begin as early as next week.
Governor Bruce Rauner is signing two new laws restricting the sale of two controversial powders. One new law bans the sale of powdered alcohol in Illinois over fears it could easily be used to spike someone’s drink. The other is sponsored by Representative Stephanie Kifowit of Aurora and prohibits the sale of powdered caffeine to anyone under 18 years old. She says such a stimulant could be very harmful to children. Both new laws take effect January 1st.
ComEd and Openlands, an urban conservation organization, have teamed up to provide 200-thousand dollars in green grants to 23 local municipalities in northern Illinois. These grants help fund environmental projects that might otherwise be sacrificed due to budget issues. Locally, Sycamore, DeKalb County, Lee County, Orangeville, and Poplar Grove will have their projects individual projects funded.
Senate Republicans rejected a proposal on freezing property taxes and changing the school funding formula, but gave some hope that the parties are getting closer on these issues. The issues were packaged together, along with changes to state contributions to pensions for Chicago teachers, as a compromise to satisfy regional concerns throughout the state. The legislation would have frozen property taxes everywhere but Cook County in 2016 and 2017, and established a sunset date for the current school aid formula, with the expectation legislation would be crafted by a bipartisan committee by the end of 2016. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said she considered the bill a good starting point, but couldn't support it. "We need to sit down what all of us need in order for this to make sense. So while it's a good effort, it's not real, because it's not really compromise," Radogno said. The legislation failed to garner the supermajority support needed to pass. Radogno hopes the next version allows local governments to reduce their costs in the ways Gov. Bruce Rauner has supported, including changes to collective bargaining and prevailing wage laws.
The busy Wednesday at the Capitol included more testimony before a Committee of the Whole in the Illinois House by social service providers and clients over the lack of a budget. That was capped by a vote on a one-month, $31 million appropriation for those programs. The vote was on an amendment to a bill which could get a final vote when the House is back Tuesday. The programs showcased Wednesday include The Autism Program and Lincoln's Challenge.
An elderly Rockford woman was beaten and robbed in her own home on Kishwaukee Street last night, after leaving a door partially open for her pets. The 88-year old victim told police she had left her back screen door partially open to allow her dogs access to her backyard, when a white man entered through that back door and demanded cash from her before striking her. He escaped with the woman’s wallet. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. No arrests have been made.

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